An engine fire broke out on board a Fullers ferry en route to Waiheke Island on Sunday evening, prompting a rapid response from emergency services and temporarily anchoring the vessel near Motuihe Island. Fortunately, there were no passengers aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, and no injuries have been reported.
The fire, classified as a “ship fire” by Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), was first reported at 5:28pm on 20 April 2025, a 111 call triggering Incident Number F4197048. The ferry had been making a routine crew-only transfer when the crew identified an issue in the engine room. Emergency services were quickly mobilised, with fire crews from Parnell, Remuera and Howick attending the callout, alongside a specialist marine response team.
Additional footage from the scene, aired by 1News, showed the Police vessel Deodar departing from the Marine Rescue Centre at Mechanics Bay, joining Coastguard teams and Fire and Emergency responders in attending the scene. Fullers has since confirmed the vessel was on a crew-only run, with no passengers aboard. The emergency was triggered by an engine fire near Motuihe Island, with the alert raised at 5.28pm via a 111 call. While the ferry initially anchored off Motuihe, authorities prepared to meet the vessel upon its return to port, according to FENZ.
By the time emergency services arrived, the fire had already been contained by the vessel’s onboard systems and crew. FENZ reported the total incident duration as just under four hours, including time spent assessing and securing the vessel post-fire.
The incident also highlights the importance of New Zealand’s specialist marine response units. With growing ferry traffic between Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf islands, the ability to respond quickly to maritime emergencies is crucial, particularly in less accessible waters.
Fullers operates the link between Auckland and Waiheke Island, with thousands of passengers relying on the ferry service each week for commuting, tourism and freight. Although this particular vessel was not in service with passengers, the incident raises questions about fleet readiness and resilience.
Fullers has a long-standing safety record, and this incident appears to have been managed swiftly and effectively. The company has previously upgraded its fleet with newer vessels and implemented more rigorous maintenance schedules in response to public concerns about service interruptions and safety.
As of Sunday night, the ferry’s condition and location were still being assessed. A recovery operation is expected to be underway to return the vessel to port for inspection. No disruption to passenger services has been reported, and other Fullers services were continuing as scheduled.
For boaties and other vessels navigating the inner Hauraki Gulf, FENZ has issued no advisories or restrictions around the area. However, watercraft operating near Motuihe Island should remain alert for ongoing recovery activity until the ferry is safely returned to Auckland.
Boating New Zealand will continue to monitor this developing story and update readers as more details become available.
Sources:
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Fire and Emergency New Zealand Incident Report F4197048
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Radio New Zealand, 20 April 2025
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1News, 20 April 2025
